Livingston have quality to thrive in the Premiership, says wing ace
Graham Carey says Livingston have the quality and mentality to thrive in the Premiership, and know how to win games.
The Irish winger looks to the example set by Dundee United in their return to the top-flight last season, but says the Lions have a better squad.
Carey caught the eye of boss David Martindale when he scored a scorching winner for St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup last season and watched Livingston's play-off final win over Ross County to return to Scotland's elite league.
The 36-year-old former Celtic youth liked what he saw, and is pleased to be on board this season as the Lions prepare to visit Kilmarnock – a side they lost narrowly to 1-0 in the League Cup at Rugby Park earlier this month – in Saturday's top flight opener.
He said: 'Because I knew there was interest, I was watching them in the play-off final, and when we [St Johnstone] played them in the cup last year when we beat them, we should have been three or four down at half-time.
'Compared to some of the teams I played against last year with St Johnstone this team, I feel, is better than quite a few of them – and we've added some quality and experience as well.
'We know how tough this league is, we know it's going to be tight, and we just feel like we have the quality in the squad and the mentality that the boys built last year by winning a lot of games.
'You saw even Dundee United last year when they came up, they had a winning mentality.
'They didn't necessarily play great football all the time, but they knew how to win games, and I think that's important.'
Former Plymouth Argyle and Ross County star Carey says Martindale played a huge role in his decision to join the West Lothian club, after St Johnstone were pitched into the Championship.
He said: 'When I spoke to the manager in the summer he said some of the problems they had in games last year was when teams were in a low block and they found it difficult to break teams down at times.
'That's what he brought me in for, to be creative, and add to the culture we have here as a winning team.
'People want to score goals and they know how to win games, and if I can help that throughout the season, then great.
'It was quite an easy decision, especially when I looked at the facilities that we have here, and the new pitch that was going down.
'It's like night and day compared to last season, it's really enjoyable to play on, and to train on.
'I've known him over the years, playing against his teams, and I've always found it difficult.
'They're always high-intensity, want to play good football, want to get the ball forward, but in the right way.
'We feel that we have good enough players to be able to play through teams, not always over the top.
'After speaking to him in the summer it was quite easy, it was done over the course of a couple of days.
'When I saw the facilities it was great for me, and it's closer to home as well.'
Carey has had a varied career, including in England and Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia, which he feels has benefited him.
He said: 'I definitely don't think I'd be still probably playing at this level if I didn't go abroad.
'I think coming off the back of that I played four years in England, where I played almost 200 games, so that was a lot of games on my body.
'Going abroad, we had winter breaks, international breaks, and not as many games – even playing in a warmer climate, I felt like it reset my body a bit.
'So when I came back I was still able to play at this level at my age.'
Meanwhile, defender Ryan McGowan insists the narrow loss at Killie won't have a baring on this weekend's clash.
He said: 'I thought we equipped ourselves quite well and we played well without scoring. It was a good opportunity for players that have not played at that level to sample it.
'I'm looking forward to a big week and hopefully getting off to a good start.'
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